Defective pixel specifying method, defective pixel specifying system, image correcting method, and image correcting system

• US 7,683,949 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US12/219,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 382/275
• US Class Current: 348/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/30 using solid-state colour display devices

Abstract

A defective pixel specifying method and a defective pixel specifying system for a semiconductor device having a defective pixel are provided. Also provided are an image correcting method and an image correcting system for making a defective pixel inconspicuous on the screen when a read image is displayed. The present invention determines whether or not there is a defective pixel for each pixel and specifies the coordinate of the defective pixel using image signals obtained by reading a plurality of images. The image signal of the defective pixel is set based on the image signals of the pixels adjacent to the defective pixel to correct the image of the subject read.

Claims

1. A driving method of a device comprising a pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion includes a display element and a photoelectric conversion element, the method comprising:

obtaining a first signal by the pixel portion;

obtaining a second signal by the pixel portion;

determining whether each of a plurality of pixels is a defective pixel;

obtaining a third signal by the pixel portion;

correcting the third signal by using signals of pixels adjacent to the defective pixel; and

displaying an image on the pixel portion,

wherein the first signal is almost the same as a signal obtained by reading a black calibration sheet, and the second signal is almost the same as a signal obtained by reading a white calibration sheet.

2. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is obtained by reading a black sheet which is placed over the pixel portion.

3. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein the second signal is obtained by reading a white sheet which is placed over the pixel portion.

4. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein the third signal is obtained by reading an object over the pixel portion.

5. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of obtaining the first signal, a potential of the photoelectric conversion element is read upon an application of a reset signal.

6. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of obtaining the first signal, an accumulation time is short.

7. A driving method of a device comprising a pixel portion, wherein the pixel portion includes a display element and a photoelectric conversion element, the method comprising:

obtaining a first signal by the pixel portion;

obtaining a second signal by the pixel portion;

determining whether each of a plurality of pixels is a defective pixel;

obtaining a first image by the pixel portion;

correcting the first image by using signals of pixels adjacent to the defective pixel to form a second image; and

displaying the second image on the pixel portion,

wherein the first signal is almost the same as a signal obtained by reading a black calibration sheet, and the second signal is almost the same as a signal obtained by reading a white calibration sheet.

8. The driving method according to claim 7, wherein the first signal is obtained by reading a black sheet which is placed over the pixel portion.

9. The driving method according to claim 7, wherein the second signal is obtained by reading a white sheet which is placed over the pixel portion.

10. The driving method according to claim 7, wherein the first image is obtained by reading an object over the pixel portion.

11. The driving method according to claim 7, wherein, in the step of obtaining the first signal, a potential of the photoelectric conversion element is read upon an application of a reset signal.

12. The driving method according to claim 7, wherein, in the step of obtaining the first signal, an accumulation time is short.

13. A driving method of a device comprising a pixel, wherein the pixel includes a display element, a photoelectric conversion element and a transistor, and an n-channel terminal of the photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to a gate of the transistor, the method comprising:

obtaining a first potential of the n-channel terminal;

obtaining a second potential of the n-channel terminal;

determining whether each of a plurality of pixels is a defective pixel;

obtaining a third potential of the n-channel terminal;

correcting the third potential by using potentials of pixels adjacent to the defective pixel; and

applying a fourth potential to the display element,

wherein the first potential is almost the same as a potential obtained by reading a black calibration sheet, and the second potential is almost the same as a potential obtained by reading a white calibration sheet.

14. The driving method according to claim 13, wherein the first potential is obtained by reading a black sheet which is placed over the pixel.

15. The driving method according to claim 13, wherein the second potential is obtained by reading a white sheet which is placed over the pixel.

16. The driving method according to claim 13, wherein the third potential is obtained by reading an object over the pixel.

17. The driving method according to claim 13, wherein, the first potential is read upon an application of a reset signal.

18. The driving method according to claim 13, wherein, in the step of obtaining the first potential, an accumulation time is short.